galway_gas wrote:

Westie85 wrote: I doubt we're restricted. It's a separate competition to the Challange Cup

But organised by the same muppets

"organised".

That's a strong word.

Joking aside the league squads are all frozen going in to the last stretch of the season, so I'd imagine anyone on the final squad list is eligible. On a related point Leinster's loan-back clause on Cooney applied to the 6 nations window only, after that we were free to do with him as we wish.

Westie85 wrote: I doubt we're restricted. It's a separate competition to the Challange Cup

But organised by the same muppets

I doubt we're restricted. It's a separate competition to the Challange Cup

Does anybody know if we are restricted to our challenge cup squad? If so we will be without John Cooney and Shane O'Leary. Swifty would have to tog out again as Dillane isn't in squad either. We'd need a few more medical jokers and Leinster to drop the embargo on playing Cooney.

feeling a bit more optimistic after hearing Matt Kvesic is out, he's been massive for them this year and is just the kind of player that would have done a lot of damage against us. I see quite a few of the Connacht guys are on the emerging Ireland trip to Georgia, there's a few of our lads who could do with a summer break especially Denis Buckley. I'm predicting already that Matt Healy willl be the standout player of the trip to Georgia.

We have more than enough to do to get past Gloucester before considering the French opposition but if we do we'll cross that hurdle when we come to it. We have a good benchmark for where Gloucester are at. Crucially they have built momentum. The Zebre game and the 2nd half against Ospreys give us something to build on but we have major room for improvement if we hope to go there and win. Defensively we will have to be resolute and we'll have to take any half chances we get. Defensively in the last while we are leaking a lot of relatively straight forward tries to the better sides. Teams really aren't having to work for their scores against us. Despite that there have been crucial stages in each of the last 3 home games where we could have swung things our way and we failed to take them.

On present form I'd be shocked if we can put the 80 minute performance we need to put together to win but I'm glad we've at least got 7th. Worst case scenario we should get top seeding for the Challenge Cup for next season. While the wind has played a part in some of our poor first half showings its hasn't been the sole cause.

We need a fast start, pile the pressure on them and any score we concede next Sunday at least lets make them work hard for it.

RonanL wrote: You'd probably say that we're most likely to get Bordeaux? Racing would be the biggest draw crowd wise, and it would make for a great occasion, but I think I'd prefer Bordeaux/Montpellier/Oyonnax. But that's coming from someone who watches no Top 14 rugby. Anyone else in the know care to share how it's likely to shake up, and who we should be rooting for?

It won't be Racing - they're at home needing a win against a Castres side who escaped relegation this weekend.

It won't be Montpellier - they need a bizarre sequence of results to have a chance.

It likely won't be Oyannax - even if they lose Racing and Bordeaux-Begles would both have to win.

It probably will be Bordeaux-Begles, they're away to Toulouse; however it should be noted Toulouse don't have an awful lot to play for (unless Oyannax give it socks at Toulon, in which case Toulouse will need a home win for home advantage in the barrage and a bonus point win to knock Toulon out of the top two). They lost to Grenoble this weekend though so there'll probably be a reaction.

All in all Bordeaux-Begles would be my pick to play. Apart from a recent win at all-but-mathematically relegated Lyon asides, their only wins away from home since La Rochelle last September and London Welsh in October.

Definatly do not want Bordeaux. the way they play could cause us serious problems

connachta wrote: The real decider in the end

I was worried about physical freshness. But when you look closely to the stats, Afoa Hibbard and Savage played the same amount of minutes, if not more, as Buckley McCartney and Muldowney did..

The real make or break could depend on Poolman Loughney and Ronaldson availability. Those 3 should bring a clear added value.
Does any of you know something about them and their recovery?

Squad update will be interesting alright. Fingers crossed we didn't pick up any injuries at the awards ball!

I was having a quick look at the Top 14 table and remaining fixtures. You'd probably say that we're most likely to get Bordeaux? Racing would be the biggest draw crowd wise, and it would make for a great occasion, but I think I'd prefer Bordeaux/Montpellier/Oyonnax. But that's coming from someone who watches no Top 14 rugby. Anyone else in the know care to share how it's likely to shake up, and who we should be rooting for?

The real decider in the end

I was worried about physical freshness. But when you look closely to the stats, Afoa Hibbard and Savage played the same amount of minutes, if not more, as Buckley McCartney and Muldowney did..

The real make or break could depend on Poolman Loughney and Ronaldson availability. Those 3 should bring a clear added value.
Does any of you know something about them and their recovery?